Jess Golden. Albert Whitman & Co., 2014. ISBN 9780807575369
What do you do when you desperately want a dog of your own, but real
ones make you sneeze? Well, you can do what Ally does
initially and draw pictures of them or you can go a step further and
make one, using your imagination and a bit of magic. When it
snowed and the other kids were making snowmen, Ally made a snow dog.
She gave him pebble eyes, a pinecone collar and a crooked icicle
tail. And even though her friends laughed at her, that snow
dog followed Ally home and they had such fun together. But
when spring came, the snow melted and so did snow dog so Ally made a
flower dog. Then in summer she made a sand dog and in Autumn,
a leaf dog, each giving her great fun and companionship.
This is a lovely story about a girl and her imagination with the
edges of reality being blurred by the charming artworks which add
something special to this delightful story. As an added bonus,
for those children who can't have their own dogs because of their
own allergies, there are instructions on how to make one - without
snow, sand, leaves or flowers!
Barbara Braxton
The simple things by Bill Condon
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743317242.
For every Christmas and birthday of his ten years, Aunt Lola has
sent Stephen $10.00 and, at his mother's insistence, he has
dutifully written to thank her. But he has never met her and
doesn't want to - what would a ten year-old city boy and an old
spinster aunt have in common? But as her 80th birthday
approaches, Stephen's parents take him for a holiday with her - and
she is all that he is expected: crotchety, pedantic, set in
her ways and a bit scary. How long can three weeks last? Like
many of today's children, because of scattered families he hasn't
had much to do with the elderly and he's a little afraid of what to
expect - not made any easier by his shyness. But as the days go by,
both begin to learn about each other and themselves, and the joys
the simple things of life can bring. Through Stephen's innocent
questions and observations, Aunt Lola learns to let go and Stephen
learns some surprising life lessons through simple things like
finally catching a fish and his discovery that Aunt Lola has kept
every one of those thank-you letters!
Tempered by dad-humour (a close relative to dad-dancing), this is a
gentle story written with compassion and understanding from both
points of view. Aunt Lola has kept a secret for over 60 years
that has tempered her view of the world, particularly trusting
others like her neighbour Norm, while Stephen learns to look beyond
his fears and begins to develop understanding and empathy. It is a
story of hope and joy that touches on some important issues about
relationships and acceptance by focusing on characters that are so
ordinary and real they bring the story to life. They
could be someone the reader knows.
Beth Norling's quirky line drawings at the beginning of each chapter
add an extra layer to what appears to be a simple book but really is
one of some complexity. It is skilfully crafted by an experienced
author (Condon says there were several complete rewrites of it
before he was satisfied) to help our younger readers realise that
older people are just another generation, not another race. As
our parents and grandparents live longer than they ever have, our
children are going to experience their ageing in a way that previous
generations have not, and so anything that builds a bridge of
understanding and acceptance (from both ends) has to be welcomed.
Old age is a privilege not a right, and there are many who don't get
to enjoy it, so there are many children who don't get to experience
the love and warmth that a great-grandma or great-grandpa can
offer. Having had the most loving grandparents and now being
one, I know the riches grandparents give and receive. Stephen
is lucky that he learns to love Aunt Lola and that love is
reciprocated. Would that all our kids could experience such a
special relationship.
This would be a perfect accompaniment to a study of family history
and the continuum of life.
Barbara Braxton
My life (series) by Tristan Bancks
Ill. by Gus Gordon. Random House, 2014. My life and other stuff I made up ISBN 9780857983190 My life and other stuff that went wrong ISBN 9780857980373
Tom Weekly likes to write stories about his life because even though
some things go wrong, he still gets to be the hero in his own book.
In a collection of short stories reminiscent of his own hero Paul
Jennings, Tristan Bancks has breathed new life into that gross
humour that boys of a certain age, particularly, revel in. Whether
he's writing about a birthmark on his back that others tell him
looks like a poo, or defending himself against a killer magpie Tom
Weekly tells the tale with ease as he weaves in and out of trouble,
taking the most mundane and innocuous situations and crafting them
into an event as only a true storyteller can do.
Accompanied by the exquisite 'no frills' line drawings by Gus Gordon
which delve straight to the point (compare Jack's nan with Tom's
nan), these stories will engage younger independent readers who are
looking for a reason to read for pleasure. They are perfect
read-alouds of just the right length - read one or two stories and
then offer the books for lending and not only will there be a
reserve list but you will be able to satisfy the need while they
wait by introducing Jennings (as popular as ever), Milne, Kinney and
Griffiths, showing that there is not only something entertaining
about this reading thing but also that the library's shelves have
plenty to offer. (It's called reaching the long tail - those who
don't visit because they believe there is nothing relevant to their
needs.) But, as Tom warns them, if they borrow it and don't like it
then they need to return it to the library because 'librarians get
kind of upset about that. Believe me.'
But because the technology is available and accessible, there is a
host of online stuff including ebook versions of each title as well
as an invitation for readers to send their own ideas for a story to
TheTomWeekly@gmail.com. Check out www.tristanbancks.com/2013/11/my-life-other-stuff-that-went-wrong.html
There's a lot of reading just on that site alone!
Barbara Braxton
Bubble trouble by Tom Percival
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408838778.
(Age: 3-7) Lift the flap book. Picture book. Friendship. When two
friends decide to have a bubble blowing competition, trouble follows
as they try to outdo each other, making machines to help them blow
the biggest bubble ever. The story begins by showing them as best
friends: they are the same age and height, live next door to each
other and love blowing bubbles. The similarities will enthuse
younger readers as they relate their similarities with their friends
and recognise the things they do together. But in making a
competition between the two friends, trouble ensues as the machines
get more elaborate, ending with an explosion. Along the way small
children will love opening the bubbles on each page to follow the
story, the flaps adding a fun level of interest in the story. The
amusing illustrations too will add to the excitement of the story as
the friends come to realise that perhaps friendship is more
important than competition, as they get all their friends together
to have one big blow to make a bubble which outshines everything
else.
And all is forgiven between the two as they realise that doing
things together is more important, until one says 'I can jump higher
than you'.
A funny, fast paced story with marvelous eye popping illustrations,
this story will be a treat in early childhood classes or at home,
where friendship is being discussed. Teachers and parents alike will
be able to use the story to defuse some antagonism between friends,
developing the idea that working together is more fun and certainly
more satisfying than competing. Themes of winning and cooperation,
machines and bubble making could all be developed using this book.
Fran Knight
Man made boy by Jon Skovron
Allen & Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743315132.
(Age: 14+) This is a coming-of-age novel with a difference, described as
'hilarious, romantic and wildly imaginative' and it is all that
indeed. Boy is the son of Frankenstein's Monster and his Bride and
as you can imagine this is not a family that could easily fit into a
normal human suburban life. Instead they live in a community of
magical creatures in a labyrinth underneath a Broadway theatre which
continually runs a magical show featuring all the assorted societal
misfits of the commune: the Diva (Medusa), troll dancers, Charon
the ferryman who acts as stage hand, the Siren whose act befuddles
every adult audience, and led by the redoubtable undead Ruthven.
Boy's only interaction with the world of humans is through the
Internet where he hangs out with other geeks and pursues his passion
for creating coding. Like all teenagers he chafes at the
restrictions of his life and yearns to escape the rigidity of his
confined existence. When conflict with his parents escalates Boy
takes off and attempts to fit into the human world, banking on his
newly created super code to fund his adventure. But something goes
seriously wrong. His code evolves itself into a powerful Artificial
Intelligence which begins to stalk him with disastrous results.
As Boy attempts to dodge and destroy VI (Virtual Intelligence), his
own creation, he is led to other magical enclaves where he meets up
with more mythical misfits and embarks on a bizarre road trip with
the granddaughter/s of infamous Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde. Their cross
country trek introduces Boy to country diners, shopping malls,
undisguised curiosity by strangers, danger, love and heartbreak.
However, no matter how he tries to escape his own creation, the time
comes when he must face it down and rescue his family.
A wonderful story of wild adventures, acceptance and tolerance, the
importance of family support and being true to oneself, this was a
real page turner and fun to read. Both male and female young adults,
from around 14 up would find it immensely appealing. Some strong
language and sexual references would lead me to suggest that your
older readers would be the most suitable audience.
Visit the author's website here .
Sue Warren
Our fathers edited by Judy Macpherson Kent and Andrew Collett
Wakefield Press, 2014. ISBN 9781743053133.
Recommended. Fatherhood. Family history. South Australia's social
history. Work in Australia (post War focus). World War II. Suburban
life. A school reunion led to the reflections of a collection of
former Linden Park Primary students about their fathers. This
could have been a somewhat self-indulgent collection of anecdotes;
instead it is an amazing look into post-war life in Adelaide when
the homes in the inner leafy eastern suburbs around Linden Park were
being built and settled by hard-working and 'ordinary' Australian
families. The jigsaw puzzle insight into war experiences (as shared
with their families) and the impact of the early experiences of
these fathers and then their own relationships with their children
(born mostly in 1950) slowly reveals a broader picture of social
life. I delighted in seeing glimpses of the changes in work
and social expectations and the make-do attitudes of those who were
rearing children during the 1950's. Children of today will
have their own stories to tell of social change through their
childhood, but this book shares snapshots through the lens of those
who lived this period of South Australian growth and change. I loved
revisiting the period when children played freely in their
neighbourhoods with classmates, climbing trees, exploring mines and
bushland without an adult in sight; riding billycarts and bikes
without helmets; being taught to drive by their fathers on dirt
roads, and fixing cars in the back yard and going to Rowley Park
Speedway; and being delighted with the occasional simple treat from
a hard-working man who was often a self-made expert in new
technologies. All of this with the rule to be home by 6pm for tea!
This is unapologetically a book about fathers, some of them born
overseas, and the war experiences of many of these men adds a wider
global history. The silence of some in sharing their own war
history speaks loudly of the personal cost of participation in
conflict. As the introduction suggests there could equally be a book
to follow about the mothers. Obviously a book of this nature
is always fraught with the difficulties of distorted memories,
however they are our South Australian memories, and it is not told
as a history, but as an insight into the ordinary lives of ordinary
heroes.
(Note: School students may not connect with this book as a whole,
but the individual stories could be used by students of History to
connect with South Australia's past.)
Carolyn Hull
Catch that plane! by Sally Sutton
Ill. by Sylvie Currin Korankowa. Walker Books, 2014 ISBN
9781927120680.
(Age: 4+) Air travel. Airport. Family. As a family runs late to
catch their plane, all the experiences of being in an airport are
covered, as they go to the departure desk, run down the travelator,
have a sniffer dog sniff them, walk across the aerobridge and
finally board the plane. This would be a good introduction to the
geography of an airport and then traveling by plane. It shows the
readers the procedure to getting on a plane, the rush of being late,
the sequence of different things they must do before they board the
plane, and what will be expected of them.
Children will get a thrill out of the different aspects of an
airport presented to them, and share their own experiences with
their classmates.
The illustrations recall an earlier illustrative technique and
present the features of an airport and travelling well. Once on
board the plane, other procedures are presented until they
finally sit in their seats ready for take off.
In rhyming stanzas,the words used are expressive and will delight
younger readers when it is read out loud.
I seem to have read several books about this event in children's
lives. Last year was Bernard's plane trip by Adele Jaunn (Working
Title Press, 2013) which I really enjoyed. The two books would work
well together.
Fran Knight
Frank Davies and the amazing frog catapult by Rohan Clifford
Puffin, 2014. ISBN 9780143307532
(Ages: 10+) Recommended. To be honest, I took a
while to get into this book and it sat on my bedside table half-read
for a couple of weeks. That could be because of my natural
prejudices about cane toads or perhaps whiney kids. Then I picked it
up with a fresher viewpoint and found I zipped through the last half
and it began to come together.
Frank Davies lives in Laconia Heights, right next to an airfield - not
a particularly salubrious location. His family comprises Mum,
small clever but often irritating little sister, his Grampa and his
stepfather, Omar.
Frank is not a particularly happy boy as he has to deal with a
nasty-tempered principal, Mr Edwart, as well as the bully Wobber
Wiley at school and then when he gets home he grits his teeth
resentfully at the presence of his step-dad, Omar Salman. Not
that Omar is a horrible stepfather, in fact quite the opposite, but
Frank misses his dad and is angry at his mother for
re-marrying. He spends much of his time with his much-loved
Grampa who spends much of his time in the grotty backyard shed amid
assorted strange bits and pieces.
One afternoon as Frank pours out his latest tale of woe to Grampa -
a run in with Wobber Wiley which resulted in a suspension for Frank
and some extra free plumbing repairs for the school courtesy of Omar
- something weird starts to happen. Frank hears something in the
pile of wood Grampa keeps for his little woodheater and almost
thinks he sees something - something very strange indeed. At
the same time, he begins to notice ridiculous and somewhat sinister
numbers of toads all around the house and the airfield. When the
cranky crazy cat-lady next door starts blaming Frank for the
disappearance of her precious cats, the toads suddenly become even
creepier, especially when Grampa takes out his old shotgun and keeps
it at the ready.
Then tragedy strikes. For some unknown reason Grampa climbs onto the
roof of his shed in the middle of the night (strictly forbidden at
his age) armed with binoculars and gun and falls off - with fatal
results. Before the ambulance collects him, he keeps repeating the
phrase 'Grim Wah' to Frank as if passing on an important message.
In the midst of his terrible grief, Frank receives a shock visit
from a gigantic frog and discovers the 'Grimoire' (an ancient book
of frog wisdom) in the old shed and suddenly is propelled into a
race against time and toads which leads all the way to Kakadu. In
the splendid isolation of the Far North, Frank finds a peace which
results in the end of the menacing toads as well as an end to his
own self-misery.
At times fairly crazy but ultimately poignant and wise about the
healing process and moving on with life, what seems initially a
light read becomes something much more.
Sue Warren
Ophelia Wild, deadly detective by Elena de Roo
Ill. by Tracy Duncan. Walker Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922077639
(Ages: 7-9) Recommended. Detectives. Supernatural. Poetry.
'Banish those gremlins!
Ghosts on the go!
Deadly detectives,
O. Wild and Co'
Ophelia is a feisty character, a great storyteller who uses her wild
imagination and creativity to tackle zombies and monsters. In this
sequel to Ophelia Wild, secret spy the deadly detectives are
caught up in three new adventures. In school camp Ophelia can't wait
for the ghost stories, pillow fights and fun and games to begin,
however an allergic reaction to a bee sting changes her plans. In
the sick bay, Ophelia keeps her new friend Beatrix Byrd entertained
with the scariest ghost story. Zombie pox the second story
describes the unique way Ophelia uses her chicken pox to become an
actor in a zombie movie. The two young detectives assist Phoebe with
the removal of a monster under her bed in A monster problem.
Elena de Roo's rhyming verse stories are dramatic and exciting with
each page, complemented by Tracy Duncan's dark and scary
illustrations. These junior novels suited for readers from 7-9
years are a great introduction to narrative poetry. Teacher's
notes are available.
Rhyllis Bignell
Two tales of twins from Ancient Greece and Rome, retold by Ursula Dubosarsky
Ill. by David Allan. Christmas Press, 2014. ISBN 9780992283844.
(Age: 6-10) Recommended. Folk tales, Romulus and Remus, Artemis and
Apollo. Two well known tales are included in this beautifully
illustrated book, Romulus and Remus, and Artemis and
Apollo. I was surprised on reading these two tales how little
I knew, so this is will be very welcome to child readers, and adults
alike.
Artemis and Apollo, twin children of the god, Zeus, have quite
different abilities, and lead a glorious childhood, and as gods,
Apollo draws the sun across the sky in the morning, and his twin
sister, Artemis brings it back at night. Romulus and Remus too, is a known story of the founding of
Rome, but the detail is not so well known. The tale that Dubosarsky
retells gives us an insight into the distress of three different
sets of parents, the original mother who set them adrift in a basket
on the river, the wolf who found them and brought them up, and the
shepherd and his wife who continued their nurturing. But in leaving
the shepherd family the boys want to make their own path, eventually
founding the great city of Rome.
Allan's illustrations appear like woodcuts, soft colours and
borders, edges and frames all with black outlines. Each page is
different with a varying number of panels, while some pictures
embrace the complete page. However they are placed it is engaging
and draws the eye to the illustration.
This book will be a useful addition to the classroom where myths and
legends are being discussed, or a book at home to read and talk
about myths of the past still told today.
Fran Knight
Celia and Nonna by Victoria Lane and Kayleen West
Ford St Publishing, 2014. ISBN 978925000603 (hardback). ISBN
978192000601 (paperback).
Highly recommended. This is a beautiful picture book and story of
Celia and how she deals with her Nonna having to go to a nursing
home.
Celia loves visiting Nonna's house where she has a special cupboard
with all her books, puzzles and games. Nonna and Celia cook and play
games together and best of all Nonna reads so many bedtime stories
Celia gets mixed up between penguins and fairies.
Sadly Nonna starts to forget little things and then gets locked out
of her house. One day while shopping she feels a little twinge and
realises that she can no longer look after herself. Nonna moves to a
nursing home. Celia can no longer stay overnight, hates the smell of
Nonna's room and has no special drawer for all her things.
How Celia works through her issues and helps Nonna settle into her
new home makes for a delightful and positive story richly
illustrated by Kayleen West.
This is a very special story for younger children about change and
ageing, and lightly touches on the issues of Alzheimer's and
dementia. It shows how imagination can overcome problems and is of
course a wonderful exploration of the special bond between children
and grandparents.
The illustrations are wonderful and enhance the story. I loved the
picture of Nonna and her new friends gathered around the piano for a
sing-along beautifully illustrating how she is indeed settling into
her new life.
I highly recommend Celia and Nonna with its light and deft
touch to what can be a very difficult issue for families.
Michael Jongen
Tiger Stone by Deryn Mansell
Black Dog Books, 2014. ISBN 9781742032399.
(Age: Middle school) Themes: Asia - Indonesia; Truth and betrayal;
Historical fantasy; Friendship. This novel is bookended by chapters
that introduce a modern day girl from Java, Indonesia, who is about
to leave home to study. Her story is linked to the 14th century
historical fantasy drama that forms the basis for most of the
storyline.The teak-coloured 'tiger eyes' that the modern and
historical central characters share, create a mystical thread that
connect the disparate time settings.
The central story creates a background explaining the unique
coloured eyes and explaining how a young girl deals with family
tragedy and changed circumstances by being required to pretend that
she is mute. Her friendship with a young disabled boy serves to help
her protect her family from illness and her community from bandits
and thieves, with one disguised as a potential suitor for her
cousin. Even though she is essentially voiceless and powerless in
her community, she exercises great wisdom in solving the problems
she faces. This story line is woven within an understanding of
historical Indonesia, with the mythical understandings of the
traditional world of 14th Century Indonesia.
Students studying Indonesian or English teachers wanting to connect
texts with Cross-curriculum focus with Asia will add this book to
their reading lists. It is an engaging story, suited to Middle
school readers.
Carolyn Hull
Ned by Andrew Daddo
Stuff happens series. Puffin, 2014. ISBN 9780143308096.
(Age: 8+) Recommended, Humour, Boys stories, School. Another in the
series, Stuff happens, sees Ned, late on his first day at a
new school because his sister left her all important bag in the car
when Mum dropped her off. He is not happy, especially when Mum tells
him that nothing will happen on his first day, and especially not to
him. A guaranteed opener to a day of unusual events.
He finds that he is in the dragonlady's class, Ms Lucas. He is
appalled from the start when she reads the list of names and gets a
few terribly wrong, then coming to his, makes a point of calling him
Nedrick, rather than the abbreviated Ned. Of course the penny drops
when she realises who his brother and sister were, school captain
and sports captain in the past. He hasn't got a chance.
A terrible first day unfolds seeing him sent to the principals
office, having to apologise to Ms Lucas, and then being sat in the
front row. But all comes to a great end when after eating her
cheeseburger and lying about it, he realises there is more to Ms
Lucas than he thinks.
As with Jack, this book is an easy to read, well crafted
story, of a likable character in a very recognisable setting. The
plot is something seen by boys of this age everyday at school, it
has aspects which will touch every child who reads it. And this will
ensure each in the series will be passed from one hand to another by
word of mouth, one of the best ways to get boys to read.
Fran Knight
Summer of Monsters: the scandalous story of Mary Shelley by Tony Thompson
Black Dog Books, 2014. ISBN 9781742032252.
Highly recommended for adolescent and adult readers.
'He that loves reading has everything within his reach.' William
Godwin.
This is a novel that deals with old issues, from a long past age,
with a great dose of modern story-telling, told in a free and
unfettered style, mimicking the spirit of its age. While enabling us
to comprehend the electric charge of their desire to change their
world, Thompson's characters fit the new genre of gothic literature.
His modernization of language resoundingly seems to echo the voices
and energy, and daring, that these young people showed in a world
where youth was short and life was often hard, and usually brief.
This story is about the emergence of Mary Shelley prior to her
writing of Frankenstein. I would highly recommend reading some of
the poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley and some of Lord Byron's writing
would be helpful in understanding these characters. To begin to
understand the blossoming of change in the world of the text, I
would recommend reading some of Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Shelley's
mother's writing as well as that of Mary's father, William Godwin,
an early anarchist, journalist, political philosopher, novelist, and
supporter of utilitarianism.
When we read of the approbation of women of this time, we might well
wonder at the sheer temerity of these women to not just refuse to
fit into their world but to flaunt their refusal publicly. We see
these characters as determined to rise above a definition of
womanhood that cramped and belittled women, in intellect, in
possibility, in lifestyle.
Thompson captures so adroitly this sense of the change in the air of
his characters' times, and yet firmly sets them against the
prejudices and preconceptions of the roles, particularly of women,
in that age. While the male characters are often deliberately
careless of the women's feelings, they do seem to be passionate
about their beliefs. Depicted as rebellious, and aching with love,
Mary is desperate to leave behind punishing rules and behavior.
Somehow Thompson's model of narration enables this old story to be
fresh, new and zinging with an electric charge.
I was captivated by this modernization of an old story and the zest
and pace of the narrative.
(Themes: women's rights; anarchism; romantic poetry (Shelley, Byron,
Coleridge); horror genre; monsters - the idea of the monster within,
or the human capacity to be bad, careless of the lives or feelings
of others, brazenly outrageously badly behaved; social class and
rules for/acceptance of different behaviour).
Liz Bondar
Spud & Charli by Samantha Wheeler
UQP, 2014. ISBN 9780702250187.
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Horses, Horse riding, Bats, Hendra Virus,
Imagination. Thanks to Uncle Ralph's surprise birthday money, Charli
Priestly's dreams are about to come true, a week at riding camp, a
week to learn all the skills needed to win the gymkhana, a week of
fun and adventure. Unfortunately for wildly imaginative Charli there
are several major obstacles in the way. Her show-off bunkmate
Mikaela already an accomplished rider, picks Razz the beautiful
palomino and she is left with Spud the huge retired racehorse.
Charli is constantly worried, about the hundreds of bats flying
around at night, the spread of the Hendra virus, spiders and getting
injured.
When Charli overhears part of a conversation between the camp's
owner and a neighbouring farmer her overactive imagination takes
control. This leads to a disastrous set of events, she loses Spud
and the gymkhana is cancelled. It is up to Charli to turn things
around.
A junior novel for readers from 7-9 years who enjoy adventure
stories.
Rhyllis Bignell
